MANCHESTER UNITED followers will likely be determined to see their facet pip Liverpool to the Premier League title this season.
The Purple Devils leapfrogged their nice rivals with the 1-0 win at Burnley on Tuesday night time.
Manchester United pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2008-09, the final time they completed first and secondCredit score: Information Group Newspapers Ltd
It took Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s facet top of the table for the first time in 40 months, dating back to September 2017.
And that is the latest point in the season United have been the top dogs in English football since Sir Alex Ferguson led them to the title in 2012-13, his last 12 months at Previous Trafford.
Ought to the present high two – who face off in the league and FA Cup this month – end the season in the identical spots with United first and Liverpool second, it might see an similar end to the 2008-09 marketing campaign.
That season, Ferguson’s facet claimed the title with 90 factors thanks to twenty-eight wins, six attracts and 4 defeats.
Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool had been simply 4 factors behind, solely dropping twice however drawing 11.
Two stalwarts performed the overwhelming majority of the season between the sticks.
Edwin van der Sar performed 33 Premier Leagues that season, whereas Pepe Reina was considered one of seven gamers throughout the division to characteristic for all 3,420 minutes.
United’s title-winning defence was constructed on the centre-back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic with Patrice Evra at left-back and John O’Shea that includes greater than ‘Scouser-hating’ Gary Neville.
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Benitez had Neville’s Sky pal Jamie Carragher as his No1 centre-half, beginning all 38 matches.
He was partnered by Martin Skrtel or Daniel Agger, with Sami Hyypia used sporadically, as Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio took the full-back spots.
In midfield, there was loads of star high quality, particularly at Anfield with Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard all taking part in greater than 2,300 minutes.
Lucas Leiva additionally featured closely that season, taking part in the same quantity to Paul Scholes and Anderson at Previous Trafford.
However it was Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher who had been Ferguson’s favoured two.
Out broad, Ferguson used Cristiano Ronaldo (2,749 minutes) probably the most with Park Ji-Sung (1,728) edging out Ryan Giggs (1,500) and Nani additional again (525).
Throughout the M62, Yossi Benayoun (1,890) and Alberto Riera (1,898) had been used nearly identically – though the Israeli made 4 extra league appearances.
Solely Reina and Carragher performed extra minutes than Dirk Kuyt for Liverpool in 2008-09 whereas Fernando Torres was the principle No9 with 14 targets.
Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane and David N’Gog all featured considerably, too.
However the champions had a luxurious of strikers with Dimitar Berbatov (2,542), Wayne Rooney (2,264) and Carlos Tevez (1,859) chipping in with 26 targets so as to add to Ronaldo’s 18.
Chelsea – whose Nicolas Anelka gained the Golden Boot – and Arsenal accomplished the highest 4 with Everton, Aston Villa and Fulham claiming the Europa League spots.
Tottenham completed eighth, degree on factors with West Ham and one away from Manchester Metropolis as Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom went down.
United – who presently maintain the document for 20 top-flight English titles, another than Liverpool – additionally gained the League Cup and Membership World Cup within the 2008-09 season, reached the FA Cup semis and misplaced to Barcelona within the Champions League last.
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored 18 league targets to assist propel United to high spotCredit score: Motion Photographs – Reuters
Steven Gerrard was Liverpool’s high scorer with 16 within the Premier League, two greater than Fernando TorresCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
